Nature journaling is a wonderful tool for nature observations, creating lasting memories and making deeper connections with the world around us. Each session will cover the basics of art theory and practices, journal anatomy and maximizing your senses. This month’s journaling theme is “Landscapes.”

The program will begin outside the Santiago Oaks Regional Park Nature Center.  Bring a nature journal and your own art materials such as pencils, pens, or watercolors. A portable chair is recommended along with sun protection, water and snacks. Be prepared to move along the trail a short distance and sit to document the beauty around you.

The program is free and parking is $5 per vehicle.

Advance registration required.

Inclement weather will cancel the program.

For questions, please contact resource specialist Shelly Marshall at (714) 973-6625 or shelly.marshall@ocparks.com.

Guests will be invited to celebrate the citrus history of Orange County at Key Ranch through crafts, activities, demonstrations and by exploring the first floor of the house. There is also a lovely garden and several fruit trees on the grounds.

OC Parks Volunteer and Ranger Reserve support is requested to assist staff with traffic control, customer service, and crafts. For any questions, please contact Katie McKay via email at Katelyn.McKay@ocparks.com.

Join OC Parks at George Key Ranch Historic Park for the second annual Summer Citrus Harvest! Tucked away in the city of Placentia, Key Ranch offers an authentic glimpse into Orange County’s agricultural past.

Activities and performances include:
• Hands-on craft activities for kids
• Local educational partners and exhibitors
• Live music performances by The Orange Town Revival
• Blacksmith demonstration
• Open house style tour of the Key Ranch home

Event and parking are free, but reservations are required due to limited parking onsite. Please note that this activity listing is designated for the 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. time slot. Another time slot from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. is also available.

For any questions, please reach out to OC Parks Historic Curator Katie McKay via email at Katelyn.McKay@ocparks.com. We look forward to seeing you there!

Join OC Parks at George Key Ranch Historic Park for the second annual Summer Citrus Harvest! Tucked away in the city of Placentia, Key Ranch offers an authentic glimpse into Orange County’s agricultural past.

Activities and performances include:
• Hands-on craft activities for kids
• Local educational partners and exhibitors
• Live music performances by The Orange Town Revival
• Blacksmith demonstration
• Open house style tour of the Key Ranch home

Event and parking are free, but reservations are required due to limited parking onsite. Please note that this activity listing is designated for the 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m time slot. Another time slot from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. is also available.

For any questions, please reach out to OC Parks Historic Curator Katie McKay via email at Katelyn.McKay@ocparks.com. We look forward to seeing you there!

Are your kids interested in learning more about the natural world? Come and explore the plants, animals, and landscapes of the Upper Newport Bay during our Junior Ranger program!

Participants will have the opportunity to earn their own junior ranger badge alongside an OC Parks park ranger. All program materials will be provided.

Program content is geared towards ages 7-12, but all are welcome. Please bring water, closed-toe shoes, and sun protection as needed. We will be walking a short distance on dirt trails.

Advance registration is required. This program will not accommodate walk-ups. Both the program and parking are free.

Adverse weather may cancel the program.

Enjoy an afternoon family hike in Black Star Canyon, part of OC Parks’ Irvine Ranch Open Space. We will hike along a flat trail and cross a dry creek as we watch for red-tailed hawks and mule deer. The hike will average 3-4 miles round trip at an easy pace with a medium level of interpretation. This program is for participants who would enjoy a slower-paced and level hike. Wear comfortable clothes and sturdy shoes and bring water for the hike.

Come explore OCParks’ Irvine Ranch Open Space. This scenic hike involves steep climbs and descents on both double and singletrack trails and around 1100’ of accumulated climbing elevation. Though challenging, the hike rewards you with sweeping views of the Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks and Santa Ana Mountains. On clear days you can see Catalina Island and even beyond Orange County into the Los Angeles Basin.

We start our ride through OC Parks’ Irvine Ranch Open Space on the paved Hicks Haul Road, the extension of Jeffrey Rd north of Portola Pkwy. As we warm up on the climb to the top of the road, we enjoy increasingly beautiful views over Irvine. We then follow Loma Ridge to the East, with fantastic vistas of Orange County, the surrounding wildlands, and even Catalina Island on clear days. From Loma Ridge, we descend on a single track to Box Springs which provides year-round water for wildlife like deer.

After the springs, we continue to the Sinks, Orange County’s own “Grand Canyon,” where we enjoy our snacks during a short break. On our way back, we ride along Limestone Ridge, a fun singletrack that leads us towards the Augustine Staging area, enjoying views of Saddleback and Santiago Canyon. From there we will climb back up to Loma Ridge, and then coast back down on the paved Hicks Haul Road to our starting point. Motorized recreation vehicles of any class or type are not permitted for use in the Nature Preserve.

Enjoy miles of lush oak studded canyons, fascinating rock formations and sweeping views from the Overlook Trail in the tranquility of the Weir Canyon back country, part of OC Parks’ Irvine Ranch Open Space. On a clear day we’ll be rewarded with glorious views of the San Gabriel and Santa Ana mountains. This is a fitness hike and features an 1800 ft accumulated elevation gain. There are multiple steep climbs and steep descents. Please make sure you are in excellent physical condition! You must be able to hike uphill at an average pace of 3 mph without stopping. A backpack and water are required. Please bring snack, sun screen, hat and wear sturdy closed-toe shoes.

Join Mile Square Regional Park staff and volunteers in enhancing the Nature Area habitat for local wildlife. Activities may include non-native plant removal, planting natives, watering, trash cleanup, and Butterfly Garden maintenance.

No experience is necessary; please bring a hat, sunscreen, snacks, water, wear closed toe shoes and a long sleeve shirt is recommended. Tools are provided. Please arrive on time, as work will begin promptly at 8 am.

Please note, this is a weekly reoccurring activity and space is limited. Please park in the Overflow/gravel lot and meet at the volunteer shed just a few yards west of the Overflow/gravel lot entrance.

• Space is limited and pre-registration is required.
• Minors ages 16 and younger must have a legal guardian present at all times.
• Rain or heat advisories cancel the event

This event is on August 4, 2024 at 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Please disregard any other posted or emailed times from Let’s Go Outside.

Do you want to unplug and relax into nature? Come on a “Nature Meditation Walk.” Join a Naturalist on a guided walk to truly be outside and allow your natural sense of wonder to take you to a mindful space outside.

We will walk (less than 1 mile) and take stops along the way to engage in playful, “invitations,” activities, to deepen our connection with the outside world and ourselves. Our walk will end with a tea ceremony (local herbs and honey) of reciprocity, a segue from the special, quiet space we share on our walk, back to the busy world.

Disclaimer: This program involves making and drinking tea made from sustainably sourced native plants. If you have food allergies or sensitivities, please be sure to notify park staff upon arrival.

Please wear close-toed shoes, sun protection, and bring water. A yoga mat or portable chair is suggested. Sitting materials will be provided for those who need it. For the program, expect to quiet your cellphones.

Recommended for ages 10 and older. No experience necessary!

Pre-registration on lagunacanyon.org is required for this event. No walk-ups. Register here. Each participant must register individually. For group registration or questions, please email volunteer@lagunacanyon.org.

Parking is $3.

We will begin on the patio of Nix Nature Center. This is a 2-hour program. Please note that adverse weather may cancel the program.

Join us every Monday night for a fitness-focused hike on the paved Hicks Haul Road in the Irvine Open Space Preserve. During the spring, summer and fall, hikers will enjoy wonderful sunset views and a panoramic overview of Orange County. This hike travels about 3.5 miles, up to the top of Loma Ridge and back down. The hike is conducted at about 3-3.5 miles per hour, but you may travel a bit faster or slower, at a walk, run, or jog depending on your comfort level. Most participants finish the route in about 1 hour. Because of the paved surface of the road, you may wear regular running or walking shoes. Trail shoes are fine, but not required. Please bring adequate water.

Ready for a workout? Forget the gym for the day and head outside! Join us for an exhilarating morning fitness hike on the paved Hicks Haul Road in OC Parks’ Irvine Ranch Open Space. This hike allows you to choose between a 3, 6, or 8 mile route, all of which are conducted at the speed of about 3.0 to 3.5 miles per hour. The footing on the asphalt paved road is smoother than dirt roads and single track trails normally found in Limestone Canyon Nature Preserve, but is beginning to show its age with cracks, crevices and an occasional dip. Otherwise, the terrain is smooth, so this is a great walk for anyone who wants a “wilderness experience” without getting dirty! The 6 and 8 mile routes experience two fairly steep ascents and descents. The 3 mile route takes you to the top of Loma Ridge and back down. Along the way, you will have sweeping views of much of Orange County and the Santa Ana Mountains. Various animals, like hawks, deer, and lizards are also frequently seen in this area.

Come and explore Newport Beach’s Buck Gully Reserve trail system. Beginning from the Oasis Senior Center, we’ll hike up through the almost 3-mile length of the canyon, then along San Joaquin Hills Road for a bit, stopping at Canyon Watch Park where we will take in the panoramic view of the reserve and the Pacific coastline before descending back into the canyon along the Bobcat Trail. Please bring water, a light trail snack, sturdy closed-toe shoes and supplies to keep you safe during the journey. Sunscreen and a hat are highly recommended. This activity is conducted at a walking pace, approximately 3 miles per hour.

Curious to learn about the plants among us?  Join us for a hike at Gypsum Canyon Wilderness where we’ll look at local flora, talk about native and non-native species, and learn how different plants impact our ecosystems. Learning to identify plants, both native and non-native, is a great way to cultivate a relationship to our local wildlands.

This hike will take us up a portion of Gypsum Canyon Road or Oven Canyon Road. This activity is geared toward participants curious about our local plants and ecosystem. Please bring water, closed-toe shoes and all items needed to keep you safe during our walk. Hats and sunscreen are highly recommended.

Reviewing the 1-through-5 Difficulty Ratings will help you evaluate your readiness to participate in this level-2 activity on the land. Please visit our FAQ page for answers to activity specific questions you may have prior to registering.

Enjoy an evening hike through stunning rock formations and fragrant native plants as you listen to the sounds of nature. This hike in the Irvine Open Space Preserve is done at an easy walking pace. This out-and-back program travels 3.5 miles round trip to scenic Loma Ridge and back down. Please bring a red-tinted flashlight as the return portion of the hike may be after sunset.

The Open Space is home to a wide variety of birds. Their songs and calls fill the air and enhance our experience in nature. Come learn how to identify birds by their vocalization. We will have a short orientation to listen for pitch, tone, and pattern of bird sounds, then we will take a short walk to practice these new skills. No experience is necessary. Bring your binoculars, wear comfortable shoes, and enjoy listening and looking for our feathered friends.

Take a leisurely double loop equestrian ride through beautiful Baker Canyon in the Black Star Wilderness Area, home of oak woodlands, grasslands, and coastal sage scrub.  View evidence of the old ranch days when cattle once roamed the area and see some of the wildflowers that are native to our area.  You will gain amazing views of the local canyons and Irvine Lake.

Reviewing the 1-through-5 Difficulty Ratings will help you evaluate your readiness to participate in this level-3 activity on the land. Please visit our FAQ page for answers to activity-specific questions you may have prior to registering.

This event is on August 7, 2024 at 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Please disregard any other posted or emailed times from Let’s Go Outside.

Join OC Park Naturalists as we learn about how California Native Plants save water! We will be using magnifying glasses and nature journaling our discoveries!
This program is for ages 7 and up. Anyone under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.

Please wear closed-toed shoes, sun protection, and bring water.

Advance registration required. Please register all participants – including children. Learn more and register here..

The program is free and parking is $3 per vehicle. This program will meet in the James Dilley Parking lot.

Rain or muddy conditions will cancel the program.

For questions, please email shelbi.richardson@ocparks.com

Join us for a fast afterwork hike deep in the City of Irvine’s Open Space Preserve. This fast fitness hike starts on the Quail Hill Trailhead just next to the Quail Hill Community Center. This hike will explore the tranquil back country of Shady Canyon and includes expansive views of the pristine canyon, beautiful rock formations we will hike through and occasional sweeping views of Saddleback Valley. We will hike up and over the Quail Hill neighborhood then into Shady Canyon with little to no urban disturbance.

Please come prepared with a sturdy day pack, water, snacks, closed-toe hiking shoes or boots, sunscreen, first aid, and all other supplies to keep you safe and healthy on the trail. This hike offers no shade and there are no scheduled rest stops. All participants must carry their own day pack and water and be comfortable hiking an average moving pace of 3.0 miles per hour, including uphill.